Dulaney Chapter - Order of the Arrow

Unit Elections Guidance

There have been changes in the election process over the last few years. To run your Troop OA election, please contact us to schedule the election. Elections are to be conducted by an OA Commissioner/ member from outside of the Troop. This allows all Troop OA members to vote and follows the guidance from National Scouting concerning how to run elections. To schedule a Troop election, email our Chapter at Dulaney@nentico.org with several prospective dates and we will get back to you. OR, have your OA Representative contact OA officers and/or bring your schedule ideas to our OA meeting (each 4th Tuesday, 7:30pm at Havenwood Presbyterian Church, 100 E Ridgley Rd in Timonium.)

Youth Election

To become a member, each Scout has to be elected by his Troop. A unit’s election can only be conducted once per year and is documented on a current Order of the Arrow election form. To be eligible to be on the ballot a Scout must meet three requirements:

1. Be a First Class Scout2. In the last 2 years, have camped at least 15 nights under the auspices of the BSA. Five of those nights must be in a row, in a long-term camp (summer camp, Philmont, etc), and the remaining 9 nights must not be a part of a long-term camp.3. Have Scoutmaster approval

If a Scout meets these requirements, he may be considered for election by the fellow Scouts in his troop. He must receive 50% or more of the votes of his unit to be elected.

For an election to occur, 50% of the registered active youth must be present. If 50 percent is not present, an election cannot be held. Elections are generally conducted by a secret ballot. Each youth (the OA considers Youth to be under the age of 21, so a Scouter in the Troop under the age of 21 can still vote in the election, but Scouters over the age of 21 cannot vote) then votes. They can vote “Yes” for as many of the candidates as they choose. They can also choose to abstain from the voting. If they abstain they do not vote and it does not hurt the candidate’s chances as the candidate has to receive 50% of the votes turned in.

Once the ballots have been turned in, they are counted secretly by the Unit Election team with the Scoutmaster and the OA Commissioner fills out the necessary paperwork to turn in to the Chapter. In the event that no one is elected a second vote may be held immediately with the result of this vote being final.

Adult Nominations

Adults are nominated based on their potential to enhance the Order of the Arrow program within the Council. This nomination should not be based on merit, but on what they can offer the program and its purposes as outlined above.

• Selection of the adult is based on the ability to perform the necessary functions to help the Order fulfill its purpose, and not for recognition of service, including current or prior achievement and positions.• The individual will be an asset to the Order because of demonstrated abilities that fulfill the purpose of the Order.• The camping requirements set forth for youth members are fulfilled.• The adult leader’s membership will provide a positive example for the growth and development of the youth members of the lodge.

Nominations for adults may be by a unit leader/committee, or by a district/council committee. An Adult Candidate Nomination Form must be completed and submitted to the Baltimore Area Council’s Nentico Lodge at the time of your Troop election for youth. The form(s) can be provided to the OA Commissioner conducting the election. Please note that the approval process for adult nominees may require up to 2 weeks.

Call-Out

Elected Scout call-out is usually conducted at the District Camporee but can also be conducted at summercamp. If you plan to have the call-out performed at an out of council summercamp you will need the Lodge Chief to provide approval to the summercamp. You can start this process by completing an online form at http://www.nentico.org/ providing the date of your election, camp name and address, council and lodge name of camp you are attending, candidates names, and dates of camp. The request for an out of council call-out should be sent in no later than 2 weeks before summercamp.